New and Expanded Services for Heroin and Other Opiate Addictions

August 9, 2016

Montgomery County, Ohio (August 9, 2016) - The Montgomery County Commissioners, Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) and Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County announced today new and expanded services for heroin and other opiate addictions.

"Following a joint City-County Work Session earlier this year, the County Commissioners charged ADAMHS and Public Health with developing a broad range of expanded services in response to the heroin/opiate crisis." said County Commissioner Dan Foley. "This year, over $3.5 million additional dollars are being invested to expand services and strengthen our efforts to combat opiate addiction."

New and expanded services include:

New Ambulatory Withdrawal Management Services through Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc. launched on August 1. This 10-day ambulatory withdrawal management program serves up to 20 people per week (1,040 annually) and includes medication protocol to transition from active opioid use to medication assisted treatment, symptom management/abstinence planning group, case management and referrals for ongoing treatment. Ambulatory withdrawal management is an outpatient detoxification program that can be provided in an office setting or a healthcare facility. This typeof service did not exist prior to August 1, 2016.

A new, 24/7 CrisisCare program expansion offers people rescued by Narcan from an opiate overdose immediate entry to treatment if they so choose. Secure transport/transfer from a hospital to CrisisCare will be provided. CrisisCare will complete a screening and then make an immediate treatment referral.

Double the number of residential withdrawal management beds through Nova Behavioral Health. Annually, this equates to access for 720 people to complete a typical 7-day residential program. In January, the total number of beds will increase to 12, making withdrawal management in a residential setting available to over 1,000 people annually.

A new program to provide recovery housing for between 16 to 32 pregnant women annually, depending on length of stay.

Expanded access for inmates in the Montgomery County Jail already involved with an ADAMHS agency for addiction and mental health treatment. All inmates are assessed upon intake into the jail. If they are currently under treatment for addiction and mental health issues, that treatment can continue while they are jailed with those services being funded by ADAMHS.

"The collaborative effort with Public Health is not only a long term financial commitment, but it also is an investment in our community," said ADAMHS Executive Director Helen Jones-Kelley. "These enhanced services will begin to give those suffering from addiction immediate access to a full array of customized services when they are ready for change."

"We continue to align our community efforts to assure we are collectively working together to impact the epidemic of addiction," said Health Commissioner, Jeff Cooper, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County. "These new and expanded services will go a long way to reach those who need help the most."

ADAMHS will also partner with Public Health Addiction Services Program to create a multi-disciplinary, community-based team to provide substance use disorder treatment and supportive services to individuals in their homes and the community as an alternative to inpatient/residential treatment. This program is currently being developed.

Funding for these new and expanded services is over $3.5 million. Some of the services are already underway and others will be phased in throughout the coming months. Funds for this expansion of services are being provided by the Montgomery County Human Services Levy. More than 50 thousand people, from every community in Montgomery County, receive human services through ADAMHS, Children Services, Developmental Disabilities Services, Public Health, Senior Services and numerous community organizations and partners.

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Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County works to safeguard the health of Montgomery County. We reach out to all people, regardless of race, age, or income level, and work toward helping those in need.

Public Health services are far ranging and comprehensive. We continually evaluate the changing needs of our community and implement new strategies to meet those needs.

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